Wales and Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle faces an extended stay on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury.
Ingle damaged her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Chelsea's pre-season win over Feyenoord on 7 September.
Chelsea confirmed the injury, saying: "Following assessment by the club’s medical team and a knee specialist, Sophie will soon undergo surgery before beginning a period of rehabilitation at the club."
Ingle will miss Wales' crucial Women's European Championship 2025 qualifying play-off first-round double-header against Slovakia in October.
The 33-year-old will also sit out a large chunk of Chelsea's season, with their opening Women's Super League (WSL) game at home against Aston Villa this Friday.
Manager Sonia Bompastor had said after Chelsea's 9-0 win over Feyenoord: "Sophie [Ingle], it was her knee, she got kicked in the beginning of the second half."
Ingle, who can also slot into defence, has won 139 Wales caps since making her senior international debut in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Azerbaijan in 2009, and first captained her country in 2015.
Rhian Wilkinson's side are away in the first leg to Slovakia on Friday, 25 October before hosting them in the second leg at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, 29 October as they bid to reach the 2025 finals in Switzerland.
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